Car-heating system



Oct. 30, 1923. 1,472,143

K. A. SIMMON CAR HEATING SYSTEM Filed May 11 1921 INVENTOR WITNESSES:

IJf/A 67/77/270/2.

J 5 Q 440W Patented Oct. 30, 1923.

UNITED STATES 1,472,143 PATENT OFFICE.

KARL SIMMON, F EDGEWOOD PARK, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0F PENNSYL- VANIA.

CAR-HEATING SYSTEM.

Application filed May 11, 1921. Serial No.- 468,685.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, KARL A. SIMMON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Edgewood Park, in the county of Alle- 6 gheny and State 0t Pennsylvania, have inca ly in accordance with predetermined conditions.

The object of my invention is to provide a control system for automatically governing a heating device for electric cars and the like.

More specifically stated, the object of my invention is to provide a control system for so governing car heaters that the heaters will be tie-energized when the propelling motors are operating under a heavy load and when the temperature of the car is above a predetermined value.

Briefly speaking, my invention consists in providing a switch for governing the energization of the car heaters and in controlling the operation of the switch by the position of the line switch or circuit-breaker that energizes the motor and also by a current relay which has its actuating coil in series relation with a motor armature.

For a better understanding of my invention, reference may be made to the accompanying drawing, consisting of a single figure, which is a diagrammatic View of a control system embodying my invention.

A motor 1, having an armature 2 and a series field-magnet winding 3, may be energized from a source of electrical energy, such as a trolley 4, upon the closure of a line switch or circuit-breaker 5. A starting resistor 6 is connected in series relation with the armature 2 of the motor 1 and may be shunted by the closure of a plurality of accelerating contactors 7. I

A master controller 8 is employed for governing the operation of the circuit-breaker 5 and accelerating contactors 7 in accordance with well-known practice. A current relay 9, for governing the energization of a carheating device 11, is provided with an actuating coil which is connected in series relation with the armature 2 and series fieldmagnet winding 3 of the motor 1.- The function of the relay 9 will be more fully hereinafter described.

The heating device 11 comprises a plurality of suitable resistors 12 and a contactor or switch 13. A thermal relay 14 is provided for governing the switch 18. An auxiliary control resistor 15 is provided for reducing the current traversing the coils of'the thermal relay 14 and the switch 13. A plurality of snap switches 16 and 17 are provided for manually controlling the operation of the heating device, when such control is considered desirable. Their operation in the control system will later be described more fully.

The operation of the motor 1 is effected in the usual manner by energizing the actuating coil of the circuit-breaker 5, thereby causing the circuit-breaker 5 to close and thus establish a circuit from thetrolley 4 through contact members of the circuitbreaker 5, starting resistor 6, the actuating coil of the current relay 9, and armature 2 and series field-magnet winding 3 of the motor 1 to Ground.

The acceleration of the motor 1 is efi'ected by closing the accelerating contactors 7 in the usual manner, thereby shunting successive portions of the starting resistor 6.

The operation of the car-heating device 11 is begun, when the motorman assumes his station, by the motorman closing the snap switch 16, thereby establishing a circuit from the trolley 4 through interlock 5-out of the circuit-breaker 5, contact members of the snap switch 16, auxiliary resistor 15, the actuating coil and contact blocks of the thermal relay 14 and the actuating coil of the contactor or switch 13 of the heating device 11 to Ground.

Upon the energization of the actuating coil of the switch 13, closure of the switch is effected and a circuit is established from the trolley 4 through the contact members of the switch 13 and the resistors 12 of the heating device 11 to Ground.

When the circuit-breaker 5 assumes its closed position, the circuit comprising the snap switch 16 and the actuating coil of the switch 13 is broken.

In addition, a circuit is established from the trolley 4 through interlock 5-in of the circuit-breaker 5, contact members of the current relay 9, auxiliary control resistor 15, actuating coil and contact members of the the switch 13 to Ground.

The energization of the actuating coil 13 causes the switch to assume its closed position, thereby reestablishing a circuit from the trolley 1, through contact members of the switch 13 and the heating resistors 12, to Ground. If the motor current traversing the actuating coil of the relay 9 is sutficient to actuate the relay to its open position, the circuit comprising the contact members of the relay 9 and the actuating coil of the switch 13 is broken, thereby permitting the switch 13 to-assume its open position, thus causing de-energization of the heating resistors 12.

If it is considered desirable to have the resistors 12 energized regardless of the electrical condition of the motor 1, the motorman may turn the snap switch 17 to its on position, thereby providing a circuit that is independent of the position occupied by the relay 9.

If the car becomes sufliciently heated to make it desirable to render the heating de vice l1 inoperative the thermal relay 14 will open, thereby de-energizing the actuating coil of the switch 18, thus causing the heating resistors 12 to be temporarily excluded from circuit.

From the above description, it will be apparent that, by employing the current relay 9 in combination with the remainder of the control system, I have provided means for rendering the heating device inoperative when the motor 1 is subjected to a heavy operating load.

The relay 9 may be set to operate at any predetermined value of current in accord ance with the operating conditions of the electric railway system in which it is employed. This arrangement will tend to reduce the peak loads during hours when the railway system is carrying the maximum number of pasengers. By employing the snap switches 16 and 17, either or both of the automatic means for energizing the ac tua-ting coil of the switching device 13 may be rendered operative or inoperative, as desired.

While I have shown my invention in a preferred form, it is apparent that it may be subject to minor modifications without departing from the spirit thereof. I desire, therefore, to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a control system, the combination with a dynamo-electric machine and means for governing the operation of said machine, of a heating device, automatic means for governing the operation of said device in accordance with the value of the current traversing said machine, and means for render ing said automatic means ineffective, at will.

2. In a control system, the combination with a motor and means for governing the operation of said motor, of an electric heating device, automatic means comprising a relay for governing the energization of said device, said relay having an actuating coil in series relation with said motor, and means for bridging said relay at will to render it ineffective.

3. In a control system, the combination with a dynamo-electric inacl'iine, and means for governing the operation of said machine. of a heating device, means for operating said device upon the de-energization of said machine and automatic means for governing the operation of said device in accordance with the load upon said machine, and means for rendering either said operating means or said automatic means inoperative. at will.

4. In a control system, the combination with a dynamo-electric machine and means comprising a line switch for governing the operation of said machine, of a heating device, means governed by the position of said line switch for controlling the operation of said device and means governed by the current traversing said machine for also coir trolling the operation of said device.

5. In a control system, the combination with a motor and a line switch for governing the energization of said motor, of an electric heating device, means for energizing said device upon said switch assuming its open position, and means comprising a current relay for governing the cnergization of said device in accordance with the load upon said motor.

6. In a control system, the combination with a motor and means for governing the operation of said motor. of a heating device, means for energizing said device upon the de-energization of said motor, means for energizing said device when said motor is operating at less than a predetermined load and manual means for selectively rendering each of said energizing means inoperative.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 3rd day of May 1921.

KARL A. SDIMON. 

